What Do Beekeepers Do in Winter?

When most people think of beekeeping, they imagine sunny days, buzzing bees, and hives teeming with activity. But have you ever wondered what happens during the winter months? While the bees slow down and retreat into their hives, beekeepers remain busy, ensuring their colonies survive the colder season and are ready to thrive come spring.

The Bees’ Winter Routine

In our last blog post titled “What Do Honey Bees Do in Winter?” we looked at what honey bees do to get through the UK’s cold, wet months of winter.

Honeybees don’t hibernate in winter. Instead, they form a tight cluster inside the hive, vibrating their wings to generate heat and maintain a temperature of around 20-35°C in the hive’s core. The outer bees rotate with the inner ones to keep the colony warm. During this time, they consume stored honey for energy, which keeps them alive until flowers bloom again.

This self-sufficient winter routine doesn’t mean the beekeeper can relax entirely. In fact, winter is a crucial time for beekeepers to plan, prepare, and protect their colonies.

Winter Tasks for Beekeepers

1. Hive Inspections (From Afar) During the cold months, opening a hive can be detrimental, as it allows heat to escape. Instead, beekeepers perform external checks to ensure:
   • Hives are intact and not damaged by wind, snow, or wildlife.
   • Entrances remain clear of debris or ice, allowing proper ventilation.
2. Beekeepers also listen to the hives for the faint hum of bees. This sound reassures them that the colony is alive and functioning.
3. Feeding the Bees If bees don’t have enough stored honey to last through winter, beekeepers may supplement their diet with sugar fondant or candy boards. These food sources are placed above or near the cluster for easy access.
4. In regions with longer winters, supplemental feeding can be a lifesaver for the colony. Some beekeepers also use specialised feeders to monitor consumption without opening the hive. We do not do this at The Elmer Honey Co. as the investment would be massive.
5. Pest and Disease Management Winter is a vulnerable time for bees, making pest control critical. Beekeepers monitor for signs of:
   • Varroa mites can weaken the colony by feeding on the bees’ bodily fluids and spreading viruses.
   • Mice or other animals seek shelter in hives, which can destroy, comb and contaminate the hive.
6. Many beekeepers use winter treatments, such as oxalic acid vaporisation, to control mites while the hive is broodless. These treatments are carefully timed to avoid disturbing the bees’ winter cluster.
7. Protecting Hives from the Elements Insulation or windbreaks may be added around hives to shield them from freezing temperatures. Some beekeepers wrap their hives in breathable materials or use foam boards to provide extra warmth.
8. Additionally, tilting hives slightly forward helps prevent water from pooling at the entrance, which could freeze and block access. Beekeepers also secure lids and weigh down hives to protect them from strong winds.
9. Equipment Maintenance Winter provides an opportunity to clean, repair, or replace tools and equipment. Beekeepers often:
   • Scrape and sterilise frames to remove old wax and propolis.
   • Build or paint new hive boxes in preparation for spring splits or swarms.
   • Sharpen hive tools, clean smokers, and restock supplies like frames and foundation.
10. This period of maintenance ensures that everything is in top shape when the busy beekeeping season begins again.
11. Education and Planning With less time spent in the field, winter is ideal for learning and strategising. Beekeepers may:
    • Attend workshops, webinars, or local beekeeping meetings to stay informed about the latest practices.
    • Read books or articles on advanced beekeeping techniques, such as queen rearing or natural pest control.
    • Plan for hive expansions, new apiary locations, or changes in management strategies based on notes from the previous season.
12. Bottling and Selling Honey For many beekeepers, winter is when they process and package the honey harvested earlier in the year. This includes filtering, bottling, and labelling the honey for sale.
13. Beyond honey, winter is also a time to work on our internet marketing, and this is when we do a lot of our article writing, which will bring extra traffic to our website and social platforms.

Preparing for Spring

Our winter jobs go far beyond the immediate survival of honey bees, but what we prepare for now sets the stage for the following season. Beekeepers often:

• Assess Colony Strength: By monitoring the hive’s activity and food stores throughout winter, beekeepers can identify weak colonies early. These hives may require extra support or merging with stronger colonies to ensure survival.
• Order Supplies: Whether looking at more hives to buy fi, finding new jar contracts, or getting labels ordered, we spend a lot of money over winter as it is time to stock up on essentials. Suppliers often have sales or discounts during this off-season period.
• Scout for New Apiary Locations: For those looking to expand their operations, winter is an excellent time to research and secure new sites for hives. Factors like sun exposure, wind protection, and proximity to forage are all considered.
• Honey Outlets: We spend winter and all year looking for new local places interested in stocking and selling our honey.

Why Winter Care Matters

The work beekeepers do in winter directly impacts the health and productivity of their colonies in spring. If winter and luck are on our side, strong honey bee colonies will emerge and be ready for a season of pollinating and honey production. However, if we get this wrong and/or luck is not on our side, we lose colonies and can end with significant losses.

Supporting Beekeepers in Winter

If you appreciate the hard work of The Elmer Honey Co. and other local beekeepers, let’s not forget the bees themselves. Please consider supporting your local honey producers during the winter months. The best way to do that is by buying honey. Even if you don’t like honey, you can gift it to someone else. Spending money with us helps sustain our efforts.

At The Elmer Honey Co., we’re committed to caring for our bees through the year, and while they rest and conserve energy, we stay busy behind the scenes, ensuring they have everything they need to make it through winter safely. From repairing hives to monitoring food supplies, our efforts now will pay off in the form of vibrant, healthy colonies come spring.

So, the next time you enjoy a spoonful of our golden honey, remember the dedication that goes into every jar—even during the coldest months of the year. Thank you for supporting local beekeepers and The Elmer Honey Co. and their fantastic work to protect and nurture these essential pollinators.